In the world of Naruto, various ninja are shown wearing different clothing. Though most are for aesthetic effects and to prove status/allegiance, some of these actually serve a purpose.

Contents 1 Armour 2 Cloaks 3 Flak Jackets 4 Forehead Protector 5 Full Body Suit 6 Hip Pouch 7 Masks 8 Medical Pouch 9 Medical Suit 10 Shuriken Holster 11 Straw Hats 12 References 13 See Also

Armour Edit

• Wearers: Akimichi clan, Uzumaki clan, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, Han, Hiruzen Sarutobi, ANBU, other shinobi

It was the primary form of clothing in the earlier era of the shinobi. Some shinobi, particularly the Akimichi clan, as well as Hiruzen Sarutobi, wear plated armour when going into combat. Its most obvious use is as protection from bladed weapons, blunt trauma, and some techniques. Due to the hardness of the armour, it can also be used to strengthen the power of physical attacks if the metal connects with their foe.

It seems that armour can be personalised to a certain degree, as the Akimichi have the kanji for 'food' on their armour. Armour can also be worn under a shinobi's usual clothes, although this means that less armour can be worn, usually in the form of iron meshed clothes. The ANBU also wear reinforced chest armour along with arm guards. More modern shinobi also tend to wear mesh armour underneath their clothing.

Cloaks Edit

• Wearers: Baki, Akatsuki, Kage, Taka, Eight Man Squad, Naruto Uzumaki, ANBU, Minato Namikaze, Sasuke Uchiha, Kabuto Yakushi

Cloaks are actually some of the most versatile clothing available to ninjas. They can serve many purposes, such as being ceremonial clothing, a sign of status, to conceal one's body and weapons, or as protection from weather. These can also come in a variety of designs.

Flak Jackets Edit

Main article: Flak Jacket

• Wearers: Chūnin- and jōnin-rank ninja

Flak jackets are usually worn by chūnin and jōnin over their normal clothing in most villages, although the design varies among the villages.

Forehead Protector Edit

Main article: Forehead Protector

• Wearers: Most shinobi, some summoned creatures

The most important article of clothing for any and all shinobi is their forehead protector. This headband signifies where the loyalty of a shinobi lies. It also signifies equality among shinobi of the same village. In order to be considered an official ninja, one must graduate and earn one of these headbands. The missing-nin of Akatsuki puts a scratch across their village symbol on these to signify their defection from that village. They can also serve a practical purpose, acting as protection for a ninja's forehead whilst in battle. Notably some shinobi aren't seen wearing forehead protectors, mainly in the Naruto filler arcs and after Sasuke left his behind after the fight at the Valley of End.

Full Body Suit Edit

• Wearers: Rock Lee, Might Guy, ANBU, Sai (Anime only), Naruto (in possession of one, only wearing it in the anime), Nurari, Sasuke Uchiha (only in the Chūnin Exams), Tobi (wears it underneath his Akatsuki cloak) and Kankurō

The full body suit is simply a single form-fitting piece of clothing that covers everything except the feet, hands, and head (although the ones used by the ANBU reveal the arms from shoulder down). It seems that it would allow stealthly movements, and the ones worn by Lee and Guy are claimed by the two to allow full movement, retain moisture, and is breathable.^[1] These seem to have no real downside, although Guy and Lee's seem to have the comical effect of making their backsides look larger.

Hip Pouch Edit

• Wearers: Most shinobi
• Description: Generic pouch worn over a half of one's lower back, although some people, mostly ANBU, wear two to three pouches. Medical pouches are larger and worn over the rear-end.

Used as storage for many tools, hip pouches are necessary for holding an assortment of all the most elementary of ones ninja tools such as kunai, shuriken, scrolls and explosive tags.

Masks Edit

• Wearers: ANBU, Tobi, Haku, hunter-nin, Prajñā Group

The ANBU wear ceramic masks to hide their identities. These masks come in a variety of designs, all of which resemble animal faces. In one episode, Naruto was able to buy a mask like these whilst searching for Tsunade with Jiraiya. Other ninja such as Tobi have also worn masks to conceal their identity, and Kakashi has covered part of his face with a mask since childhood. Most samurai wear protective masks as a defense against airborne toxins such as Poison Mist.

Medical Pouch Edit

• Wearers: Sakura Haruno, Ino Yamanaka, Konoha Field medic-nin, Kirigakure hunter-nin

Konoha Medical Field Ninja, such as Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka, are seen sporting their own version of the hip pouch. Like their generic counterparts, the medical pouch is worn on the back of the wearer's rear. Unlike their counterparts, however, the medical pouch covers the whole width of the wearer's rear-end. This provides the field medical ninja with more space to transport medical supplies into the field to administer emergency first aid. Both Sakura and Ino also wear their tantō above their medical pouches when on missions.

Medical Suit Edit

• Wearers: Medical-nin

The Konoha medical-nin have been shown wearing an off-white robed outfit over white-beige clothing. This seems to serve no other purpose other than to allow others to discern medical-nin from the usual ninja.

Shuriken Holster Edit

• Wearers: Most ninja
• Description: vertically worn, rectangular pouch with two pockets, worn around the thigh.

Similar to a hip pouch, the weapons holster is designed for holding kunai and shuriken only. Positioned on the thigh, the holster is conveniently placed for the quick-drawing of the kunai or shuriken they carry in combat.

Straw Hats Edit

• Wearers: Akatsuki, Han, Idate Morino (Anime only)

These hats are simply circular hats made out of straw. However, these can be used to hide one's identity, or as a way to protect oneself from unpleasant weather. The hats worn by the Kage are similar in shape, but different in composition.

References Edit

1. ↑ Naruto episode 86

See Also Edit

• List of Ninja Tools